Barcelona Pavilion | Mies Van Der Rohe | Design Inspiration with Marble, Red Onyx and Travertine

Beyond the Sagrada Familia and the visionary genius of Gaudi, Barcelona is an architecture lover's paradise. This is the type of holiday destination where you must observe every corner. Because of this, the Catalan metropolis has the features of any cosmopolitan city, with a lavish collection of Instagrammable areas. All in all, this is the perfect urban space if you’re looking for images to quench your need for popularity on social networks.

In the search for the perfect photo location, the last few years have seen the development of a genuine industry of tips for what has all the signs of a lifestyle. So, we have a proposal for the fans of aesthetic, simple lines. This is a lesser-known architectural landmark - the Barcelona Pavilion – designed by the famous Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his collaborator Lilly Reich. Less visited by tourists, this superb work by the German-born American architect was an important source of inspiration for the upcoming modernist buildings.

The last director of the Bauhaus School - the landmark of modern architecture - designed a simple but effective building, which stands out for its materials (natural stone, glass, wood, etc.) and the architectural concept that highlights them. The result of the harmonious combination of marble, travertine, and red onyx, the Pavilion hosted the German delegation at the 1929 International Exhibition in Barcelona. Moreover, although it was intended to function exclusively for the duration of the Exhibition and was subsequently demolished in 1930, less than a year after its inauguration, it was rebuilt between 1983 and 1986 based on the original plans and black and white photographs, as an opportunity for the visitors to appreciate a landmark of modern architecture.

One final "element": "God is in the details" as per Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, which perfectly reflects the significance of the Barcelona Chair for this project. This is an unusual throne for King Alfonso on the occasion of his visit, and later turned into a "status symbol".

Just as the stone has always been the essential element in successful interior design projects and an inexhaustible (re)source of inspiration, we also aimed at #generatinginspiration for our clients.

If you are planning to redesign your home and you need marble, slate, travertine, limestone or granite, visit PIATRAONLINE for the widest range of natural stone colours, finishes and textures, and plenty of stocks. Visit our website and discover the latest ideas for interior or exterior design. Or just order a stone sample at your home.  

photo sources: flickr.com, needpix.com, de.wikipedia.org, commons.wikimedia.org